AIDS Activism Documentary How to Survive a Plague Takes Sundance by Storm

By Kellee Terrell

January 26, 2012

Before the HAART era, there was a time when many people in the U.S. considered an HIV diagnosis a guaranteed death sentence. Although countless researchers and doctors worked to develop treatments for the disease, their data usually weren't made accessible to the people who needed that life-saving information the most. Meanwhile, the established processes for getting new, more effective drugs to market took so long that many HIV-positive people died waiting for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve them.

Comment by: Thomas M.
(4827 North 73 Street Milwaukee,Wisconsin 53218)
Tue., Feb. 21, 2012 at 5:24 pm EST
As having HIV for over 25 years now and my partner 25 years also as a couple for the last 18 years hard to see all the problems as were both healthly an living with HIV. were just doing what our Dr. wants us to do wish more could follow this advice blessings to all you may contact us if you wish to know more of us Thank you Thomas M.

Comment by: Rob Toth
(Lakewood Ohio)
Tue., Feb. 21, 2012 at 4:38 pm EST
This is something I've been saying for YEARS! GAY MEN invented the "Empowerment Movement" - by necessity! We also were fore-runners in Positive Visualization, The Patient Bill of Rights and so much more[ probably] covered in this documentary - I hope it this makes it's way to Cleveland and is added to the Cleveland International Film Festival's line-up.

Comment by: jason moss
(philadelphia pa)
Fri., Feb. 3, 2012 at 8:40 pm EST
Act up had nothing to do with treatments for hiv. Hardworking people in the drug industry developed the drugs to help keep hiv under control. And their motivation was to make money , because big money was to be made. And nothing is wrong with that.And many wanted to really help these poor people that had hiv.But these people going around in their little groups trying to take credit for motivating others to find a cure is a bunch of crap

Comment by: Prof. Donald Gaudard
(Long Beach, CA)
Sat., Jun. 9, 2012 at 2:50 am EDTObviously, you weren't there and obviously you were not a part of the early 80's AIDS struggle. Go back under the rock and spare us all your vile, bitter diatribes.

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